The Bottom Line
October 31, 2003
Memo to Rumsfeld

Sorry about the light posting recently. Meanwhile, here is a reply I wrote to the Rumsfeld memo raising questions about the terror war.


Overall, this list suggests to me three Key Results Areas: intelligence, diplomacy, and morale. We need intelligence in order to be able to track terrorists and to provide security against a mega-terror attack. We need diplomacy in order to reduce hate-mongering and achieve better co-operation in shutting down terrorist groups. We need to maintain morale among those who oppose terror and lower the morale of the terrorist organizations.

I propose indicators of performance (IOP's) for each of these areas.

Another reply to Rumsfeld comes from Oliver North.


Schools that teach math and science and the abilities needed for modern life -- as alternatives to the madrassas -- are the long-term solution to the problems of Iraq, and the answer to terrorism.

It is interesting that Rumsfeld's memo had to be leaked and then almost disavowed. In a reasonable world, his memo would have been treated as a model exercise in transparent government. As Steve MacLaughlin put it,

I couldn't help but think it was something straight out of The Cluetrain Manifesto. Finally you see someone not just being a talking head. Someone actually thinking and not spinning.

Thanks to David Weinberger to the pointer to the latter post.

Posted by Arnold at 8:06 AM | Email this entry | Category: economic essays
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